Attorney Joe McKay called the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson’s sign law “antiquated,” as he presented a revised law during the Board of Trustees work session meeting on Sept. 14.

One of the major reasons for the change is the existing law treats political signs as temporary signs, which have specific regulations with, but they’re treated differently from other political signs, which is why the change is being made. Under the new law, temporary signs won’t be regulated by the content of the sign.

In reviewing other local laws, McKay suggested adopting the Town of Cornwall’s law, which is more comprehensive. Under the new law, signs would not be allowed on village-owned property and rights-of-way, but Trustee Tiffany Gagliano expressed concerns about excluding rights-of-way when it’s in front of someone’s home and suggested more specifics with regards to where a property owner could place a sign.

McKay said he would send an article to the board, from the New York Conference of Mayors, which attempts to determine rights-of-way, but added it’s nearly impossible. Since the intent of the law is to limit signs to private property, Trustee Bill Braine suggested eliminating language pertaining to “rights-of-way.”

Code Enforcement Officer Robert Wallner proposed signs be placed a straight five feet from the edge of the road, but some residents have sidewalks while others do not. The public hearing remained open through Monday’s business meeting.

In another sign matter, it was noted that in the past, the board denied the erection of stop signs on Weeks and Stillman Avenues, but agreed to an alternative - “Children at Play” – signs. One will be placed coming up on Weeks on the right side while the second will be placed on the other side of Stillman between the property line of the two houses at the intersection.

And in a third signage matter, in April, Susan Kamlet, president of the Cornwall Historical Society, spoke to the board about placing a historical marker on Idlewild Park Drive in honor of Harriet Jacobs, who escaped sexual abuse and slavery and went on to write “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.” The Historical Society was successful in its grant application. Mayor James Kane said he will be discussing with Kamlet a location for the marker and date to be installed.

In some other business from the work session:
Pumper tanker. A tornado will delay the delivery of a new pumper-tanker to the Cornwall-on-Hudson Fire Truck. The $1.1 million apparatus was purchased four years ago.

Yard sale/bulk pick-up. The village-wide yard sale will take place from 9 .m. to 4 p.m. on October 17. Participating residents are asked to provide their address to the village as maps will be available at Village Hall the day of the sale. Bulk pick-up is scheduled for October. 19.